eSports: What Exactly Is It?

Naturally, most games that are involved in these competitions involve a multiplier element as the whole point of eSports is to interact with other players. There are so many options now available that players can play in many different tournaments and competitions. The key is to play the game type that you enjoy most or are best at.

Almost all game types are accommodated in eSports and we found that the most popular types were first person shooter (FPS), sport and MMORPGs. We expect much more to be added to this list in the near future.

Currently, eSports are mostly consumed and enjoyed by males with 85% of males making up participation of events. Industry leaders are actively trying to encourage female participation and we feel we will see some progress on this as we progress into 2017. Additionally, the eSports market generated £258 million in 2015 and we expect this to be around £391 for 2016 which is pretty crazy!

Where Can I View eSports?
It all sounds pretty exciting, doesn’t it? The industry is predicted to continue its exponential growth in 2017 and engagement is at an all-time high due to the media platforms available. You can view eSports on so many different platforms and websites. Twitch and YouTube are the most obvious ones with ESPN and Yahoo also having their own dedicated eSports sections. Additional sites that you may not have heard of are similar to Twitch and provide some great content. These are Azubu and MLG so check them out for some quality eSports streams.

Such is the growth of eSports that traditional sports websites (we use ESPN above as an example) are beginning to cater their content to eSports fans. This is pretty cool and really emphasises to us how seriously sports broadcasters are taking the eSports industry. We can honestly see other media giants such as BBC and Sky getting involved in the future and launching their own eSports brands and content. We really do expect to see some big developments in 2017.

In general, consumers will consume the eSports product in a way that they are comfortable with. This could be just about spectating or if you have a game that you are particularly adept at then you may want to participate in competitions! Check out the sites we listed above and these will give you a better idea of how you can get involved.